Device for hitting a ball, shuttlecock or the like

ABSTRACT

A striking device for striking a ball or shuttlecock or the like includes a striking means, preferably in the form of an array of string elements supported in a frame. The frame has connected thereto a handle. There are resilient means interposed between the striking means and the handle. In this manner the striking means is normally held in a predetermined position relative to the handle. The striking means is yieldable in a direction perpendicular to the plane occupied by the striking means when a ball or shuttlecock or the like impacts against the striking means. Modifications include helical springs provided outside the frame and movable segment members are used outside of spring means. Tube projections of segments are thickened at inner ends and are pressed into bores of the frame. Rotatably mounted pins optionally are mounted in a &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;heart piece&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; between the frame and handle.

United States Patent [1 1 Sommer 1451 May 20, 1975 DEVICE FOR HITTING ABALL,

SI-IUTTLECOCK OR THE LIKE [22] Filed: Mar. 31, 1972 [21] Appl. No.:240,115

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Apr. 7, 1971 Germany 2116920 [52]US. Cl 273/73 D [51] Int. Cl A63b 51/00 [58] Field of Search... 273/73R, 73 C, 73 D, 73 E, 273/73 H, 73 L [56] References Cited UNITED STATESPATENTS 240,183 4/1881 Richardson 273/73 L UX 1,523,865 1/1925 Craig273/73 D 1,526,734 2/1925 Andrews et a1. 273/73 D 1,558,507 10/1925Ryder 273/73 L UX 1,559,986 11/1925 Quick 273/73 E 2,171,223 8/1939Robinson 273/73 I-l 3,545,756 12/1970 Nash 273/73 D 3,642,283 2/1972Wilkens 273/73 D X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 5/1925 United Kingdom273/73 E 788,772 8/1935 France 273/73 D 873,589 3/1942 France 309,2384/1929 United Kingdom 273/73 D Primary Examiner-Richard J. Apley vAttorney, Agent, or FirmWalter Becker [57] ABSTRACT A striking devicefor striking a ball or shuttlecock or the like includes a strikingmeans, preferably in the form of an arrayof string elements supported ina frame. The frame has connected thereto a handle. There are resilientmeans interposed between the striking means and the handle. In thismanner the striking means is normally held in apredetermined'positionrelative to the handle. The striking means isyieldable in a direction perpendicular to the plane occupied by thestriking means when a ball or shuttlecock or the like impacts againstthe striking means. Modifications include helical springs providedoutside the frame and movable segment members are used outside of springmeans. Tube projections of segments are thickened at inner ends and arepressed into bores of the frame. Rotatably mounted pins optionally aremounted in a heart piece between the frame and handle.

8 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures DEVICE FOR HITTING A BALL, SHUTTLECOCK ORTHE LIKE The present invention relates to a device for hitting a ball,shuttlecock, or the like. Such a device may be used for example inplaying tennis, badminton or other similar games.

With devices, such as rackets of this kind, the hitting surface normallyis made up of strings possessing a certain inherent elasticity. Thiselasticity enables a ball to be hit by the racket to bounce offelastically, but since the inclination of the hitting surface to thehandle varies during impact it may be difficult to achieve an exact aimusing the racket.

It is an object of this invention to provide a device of the abovementioned character, which will make it possible to determine thedirection of travel of a ball hit by the device of the invention by thedirection of movement of the handle only.

It is another object of this invention to provide a device as set forthin the preceding paragraph, which will permit adjusting the resiliencyof the hitting surface in conformity with the desire of the respectiveplayer.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will appear moreclearly from the following specification in connection with theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates in plan view of the racket according to theinvention.

FIG. 2 shows a section taken along the line 22 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 represents a section taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a section taken along the line 44 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 shows a detail view of a frame of another embodiment of theinvention, mainly in front elevation, but partly in section, the movablemembers and springs having been withdrawn from the frame.

FIG. 6 shows a detailed plan view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, onemovable member and spring having been entirely removed.

FIG. 7 shows a part of a different frame in front elevation, the movablemember and springs having been withdrawn from the frame.

FIG. 8 shows a detail of a region of the cross-piece of anotherembodiment of the invention.

The device for hitting a ball according to the present invention, thehitting surface of which is formed by strings fastened in a frame whilethe device has elastic means permitting a nearly frictionless movementof the hitting surface relative to the handle of the device, ischaracterized primarily in that the elastic means are so arranged anddesigned that the hitting surface during its movements will not changeits position relative to the said handle.

According to one embodiment of the invention, a plurality of retainersare provided on the support. These retainers are segments retaining theresilient mounting means or springs of steel, rubber or other materialagainst the support. In this instance, the hitting means is preferablydefined by a frame, while the resilient mounting means are arranged toact between the frame and the support, while alternately the retainerscomprise members mounted to be movable relative to the support. Theresilient mounting means are arranged to act between the support andsaid movable members.

The resilient mounting means may be received in apertures in thesupport, each movable member being provided with an individualprojection engaging the or each respective mounting means arranged toact between the support and the respective movable member, and beingprovided with a groove on the side of the movable member opposite the oreach projection, the groove receiving a string connecting portionjoining adjacent strings of the hitting means. i

The hitting means may comprise an array of strings, the ends of thestrings being provided with retainers retaining the mounting meansagainst the support.

FIGS. 1 to 4 show a racket in which resilient mounting means or helicalsprings 2.3 are inserted in recesses 25 provided on a frame 24 andcushion the center strings in each direction to provide a controlresiliently cushioned area of the striking surface. Outside the springs23, there are provided movable members in the form of retainers, holdingmeans, segmental members or segments 26 which have projections 27 ontheir inner side, the projections 27 extending into the springs 23. Theprojections 27 may, if desired, be of hollow construction. On theirouter side the retainers or segments 26 are provided with a groove 28 toreceive a connecting portion between two of the strings 29 forming apart of the hitting means and defining a portion of the hitting surface.The segments 26 are further pro vided with tube-like extensions 30 (FIG.4) through which the strings 29 are passed. The individual strings ofthe racket may, in this embodiment and in the other describedembodiments all be integral with one another, or alternatively some orall of them may be constructed of separate lengths of material. Thesegments 26 are arranged in a groove 31 of the frame 24. A clearance fis provided between a base surface 32 of the groove 31 and a flange ofthe segments 26. The clearance f determines the maximum length which thesprings are permitted to adopt.

From FIGS. 5 and 6 it is evident that the segments 26 are captive in theframe, this being a preferable feature of the racket. In thisembodiment, for this purpose the tube-like projections 33 of thesegments 34 are at their inner ends provided with thickened portions 35,the outer diameter of which is somewhat greater than the diameter of thebores 37 provided in the frame 36. The segments 34 may consist ofthermoplastic material so that for the insertion of the segments 34 intothe frame 36 the tube-like projections 3.3 need to be heated onlyslightly in order to permit the thickened portions 35 to yieldsufficiently to enable the projections 33 to be pressed into the bores37. Alternatively, the segments 34 may be constructed of an elasticmaterial.

The frame 36 is also provided with bores 38, to receive the helicalsprings 39. When a sufficiently short spring 39 and a correspondingdesign of the segments 34 are employed, a construction can be realizedaccording to which the segments 34 do not project outwardly beyond theouter edge region of the frame 36. With this arrangement, damage to thesegments 34 during a possible impact of the racket with the ground canbe avoided.

The segments 34 are provided on their outer side with a groove 40 toreceive the connecting portions between pairs of strings 41.

Referring now to FIG. 7, there is shown a part of a frame 42 into whicha different segment 43 can be inserted. The segment 43 can receive threehelical springs 44.

With reference to FIG. 8, there is shown a part of a cross-piece 45 of adifferent racket. In this embodiment, strings 46 run approximatelyperpendicularly with regard to the local periphery ofa frame part 47adjacent the cross-piece 45 and thus also perpendicularly with regard tothe segments 48 inserted into the frame part 47. This is achieved by theprovision of pins 49 secured in the cross-piece 45, the strings 46 beingguided around the pins 49. In order to assure that the frictionoccurring during the elastic movement of the strings 46 relatively tothe pins 49 will be at a low value, the pins 49 may be rotatablymounted. In order that the curvature of the strings 46 at the deflectingposition where the strings bend into the string holes has a sufficientlylarge radius, pins 50 may be provided, the crosssectional shape of whichis that of a segment of a circle. In the embodiment of retainers shownin FIG. 8 the segment 48 is captive on the frame part 47, the segment 48being connected to the frame part by means of screws 51.

Where the segments are captive on the frame (FIGS. to 8), during apossible tearing of one of the strings forming the hitting means, thehelical springs also cannot become lost since these are held on theirpart by the segments.

With the described embodiments of the device according to the inventionthe direction of travel of a ball hit properly by string of the devicemay be determined only by the direction of movement of the handle.

Where the resilient mounting means are adjustable as to theirresiliency, it is possible to set the resiliency of the hitting surfaceat a value which may be most convenient or suitable to the respectiveplayer using the device.

With heretofore known ball hitting devices, the resiliency of thehitting surface may be determined only by the inherent elasticity of thestrings, in which case the resiliency decreases considerably toward theedge regions of the device so that the center of the hitting surface hasa great resiliency than the edge regions. This is due to the fact thatthe strings can yield in a direction perpendicular with regard to theplane of the hitting surface to a greater extent in the center than atthe edge regions. However, with the described embodiments of the deviceaccording to the invention, in which the effective resiliency of thehitting surface is based upon the resiliency of the mounting means whichmount the hitting means on the support, the resiliency of the wholehitting surface may be equal.

Where movable members in the form of segments are used, it is possibleto equip existing ball hitting devices so that they will operate in amanner similar to that of the described embodiments provided withsegments. The segments may be so constructed that each one cooperateswith one or more springs or other resilient mounting means. Expediently,however, at least two mounting means are received by each segment.

The mounting means may comprise springs constructed of steel, rubber orother material. Helical springs are a convenient form of spring for usein the described embodiments. However, springs of other shapes thancylindrical may be used. Furthermore, either tension springs orcompression springs may be em ployed.

The describedembodiments may permit low-friction movement of the hittingsurface relative to the handle thereby maintaining the stress applied tothe arm of a player at a low value. 4

It is, of course, to be understood that the present invention is, by nomeans, limited to the particular showing in the drawings but alsocomprises any modifications within the sceope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A racket comprising an open, peripheral head frame having its endsextended beyond one side at its throat portion and continuing parallelto each other to form a handle for said racket, and a cross-pieceextending between the sides of said head frame at said throat portionand complementary to the opposite side of said head frame, therebyforming a closed loop head frame, at least said head frame and throatportion having an external channel formed therein, said head frame andthroat portion being formed with string holes therethrough, an array ofstrings extending in longitudinal and transverse directions across saidperipheral head frame to form a striking surface, a plurality of thecentrally located strings in at least the longitudinal directionextending from said throat portion to said opposite side of said headframe, said centrally located strings being connected to said head frameby first string connecting means, said first string connecting meansconnecting said centrally located strings to said frame comprisingresiliently cushioned segments in said channel forming connections forsaid strings, said segments having inner surfaces and outer surfaces,coil springs seated in said channel between said frame and the innersurfaces of said segments to cushion movement of said segments andresiliently tension said centrally located strings, tubular string guidemeans in said channel through which said strings pass and are guidedaround the outer surfaces of said segments, the centrally locatedstrings on the side adjacent said throat portion passing through saidcross-piece and outwardly through said frame and connected to secondstring connecting means, said second string connecting means comprisingspring-pressed segments seated in the channel of said frame at saidthroat portion and coil springs in said channel between said frame andthe inner surfaces of said segments, the remaining strings in thelongitudinal direction passing through the string holes in the frame andbeing connected directly to the frame.

2. A racket comprising an open, peripheral head frame with an integralhandle formed by the ends of said head frame at its throat portionextending from one side, at least said head frame and throat portionhaving an external channel formed therein, said head frame and throatportion being formed with string holes therethrough, an array of stringsextending across said head frame in longitudinal and transversedirections to form a striking surface, a plurality of centrally locatedstrings in each of said directions being resiliently connected to saidframe by resilient cushioning means, the strings in eachof saiddirections on both sides of the center strings being connected directlyto said head frame, sid cushioning means comprising a plurality ofsegments fitting in said channel, said segments having inner andouter-surfaces, one of said segments being located on the side oppositesaid handle and two other segments being located along the transverseaxis on the diametrically oppositesides, each of said segments having alength equal to the width of said centrally located strings which passthrough said segment and are retained thereby, a plurality of coilsprings seated in said channel between the inner surface of each segmentand frame to resist movement of said segment and tension the springsconnected thereto, said one segment on the side of the frame oppositethe handle receiving and connecting the center strings extending fromthe handle side, the other two segments on the diametrically oppositesides receiving and connecting the center strings in the other directionto the opposite sides of said frame, a cross-piece located across thetwo sides of said frame at said throat portion complementary to theopposite side of said frame and through which the center strings in thelongitudinal direction pass, the center strings in said longitudinaldirection also passing through the sides of the frame at the sideportions of said cross-piece at said throat portion by additionalsegments seated in said channel at said side portions for connectingsaid longitudinal centrally located strings to said frame, and coilsprings seated in said channel between said additional segments and saidframe.

3. A device according to claim 2, in which said crosspiece includesdeflecting means for changing direction of said strings to extendoutwardly normal to said frame.

4. A device according to claim 3 in which said deflecting meanscomprises pins.

5. A device according to claim 4 in which at least some of said pins arerotatable in the transition region.

6. A device according to claim 4 in which at least some of said pins arecross sectionally in the form of segments of a circle with the curvedside facing said centrally located strings passing through saidcrosspiece.

7. A device according to claim 2 in which said segments and saidadditional segments include grooves on their outer surfaces forreceiving said strings.

8. A device according to claim 2, in which tubular string guiding meansare positioned in said channel through which said strings pass and areguided around the outer surfaces of said segments and said additionalsegments.

1. A racket comprising an open, peripheral head frame having its endsextended beyond one side at its throat portion and continuing parallelto each other to form a handle for said racket, and a cross-pieceextending between the sides of said head frame at said throat portionand complementary to the opposite side of said head frame, therebyforming a closed loop head frame, at least said head frame and throatportion having an external channel formed therein, said head frame andthroat portion being formed with string holes therethrough, an array ofstrings extending in longitudinal and transverse directions across saidperipheral head frame to form a striking surface, a plurality of thecentrally located strings in at least the longitudinal directionextending from said throat portion to said opposite side of said headframe, said centrally located strings being connected to said head frameby first string connecting means, said first string connecting meansconnecting said centrally located strings to said frame comprisingresiliently cushioned segments having inner surfaces and outer surfaces,coil springs seated in said channel between said frame and the innersurfaces of said segments to cushion movement of said segments andresiliently tension said centrally located strings, tubular string guidemeans in said channel through which said strings pass and are guidedaround the outer surfaces of said segments, the centrally locatedstrings on the side adjacent said throat portion passing through saidcross-piece and outwardly through said frame and connected to secondstring connecting means, said second string connecting means comprisingspring-pressed segments seated in the channel of said frame at saidthroat portion and coil springs in said channel between said frame andthe inner surfaces of said segments, the remaining strings in thelongitudinal direction passing through the string holes in the frame andbeing connected directly to the frame.
 2. A racket comprising an open,peripheral head frame with an integral handle formed by the ends of saidhead frame at its throat portion extending from one side, at least saidhead frame and throat portion having an external channel formed therein,said head frame and throat portion being formed with string holestherethrough, an array of strings extending across said head frame inlongitudinal and transverse directions to form a striking surface, aplurality of centrally located strings in each of said directions beingresiliently connected to said frame by resilient cushioning means, thestrings in each of said directions on both sides of the center stringsbeing connected directly to said head frame, sid cushioning meanscomprising a plurality of segments fitting in said channel, saidsegments having inner and outer surfaces, one of said segments beinglocated on the side opposite said handle and two other segments beinglocated along the transverse axis on the diametrically opposite sides,each of said segments having a length equal to the width of saidcentrally located strings which pass through said segment and areretained thereby, a plurality of coil springs seated in said channelbetween the inner surface of each segment and frame to resist movementof said segment and tension the springs connected thereto, said onesegment on the side of the frame opposite the handle receiving andconnecting the center strings extending from the handle side, the othertwo segments on the diametrically opposite sides receiving andconnecting the center strings in the other direction to the oppositesides of said frame, a cross-piece located across the two sides of saidframe at said throat portion complementary to the opposite side of saidframe and through which the center strings in the longitudinal directionpass, the center strings in said longitudinal direction also passingthrough the sides of the frame at the side portions of said cross-pieceat said throat portion by additional segments seated in said channel atsaiD side portions for connecting said longitudinal centrally locatedstrings to said frame, and coil springs seated in said channel betweensaid additional segments and said frame.
 3. A device according to claim2, in which said cross-piece includes deflecting means for changingdirection of said strings to extend outwardly normal to said frame.
 4. Adevice according to claim 3 in which said deflecting means comprisespins.
 5. A device according to claim 4 in which at least some of saidpins are rotatable in the transition region.
 6. A device according toclaim 4 in which at least some of said pins are cross sectionally in theform of segments of a circle with the curved side facing said centrallylocated strings passing through said cross-piece.
 7. A device accordingto claim 2 in which said segments and said additional segments includegrooves on their outer surfaces for receiving said strings.
 8. A deviceaccording to claim 2, in which tubular string guiding means arepositioned in said channel through which said strings pass and areguided around the outer surfaces of said segments and said additionalsegments.